Quiet Time in the Studio

After the crazy hours getting ready for the holidays and the mess I made up here, it’s nice to clean it up, get back to artwork and enjoy some quiet times in the studio while Mimi, Mewsette and Mr. Sunshine nap by the window.

“Studio Morning Shift” was another such painting from this past January when we all gathered in the studio in the morning, enjoying the light and the quiet.

I participated in Leslie Saeta’s annual “30 in 30” painting challenge in January 2017. This was my painting for day 15, and it was the first cat sketch I’ve done. I painted a number of portraits over the holidays so I moved to landscapes and other subjects first. I actually had a different image planned for that day but Mimi, Mewsette and Mr. Sunshine were totally enchanting getting organized in the best cuddle pile on my drafting table by the window, the light was wonderful, and, well, here you are.

This is painted in pastel on black pastel paper, an interesting approach with significant black in the painting, and I’m pleased with how that worked out. I also used the texture of the paper to add interest to the finish.

I wasn’t sure which crop I liked better on this sketch. Above I have the crop that preserves all the edges even though the windows aren’t right, the panes are each the same size. Below is the crop that includes the image area I’d wanted, but I like the black edges.

Below is just the “important” part, the portion with the cats in it. I love this closeup, but as always I love the big window and the cats enjoying it as much as I do. Whatever, I guess I don’t really have to make a decision.

Purchase the original or a print

I framed the original with a pure white black core mat and a matte black frame.

Daily Cat Sketches

You may not know that I created a daily cat sketch from life inspired by my very feline family, from December 2011 to August 2014, when I slowed down and then stopped when I started running out of space to store them safely. the practice made me create art each day, even something small, and I experimented with different media and paper, and turned many of the images into gift items and also sell the originals and donate them to benefit animal shelters and rescues. Read more about my Daily Cat Sketches and browse the gallery.

Prints up to 16″ x 20″ are shipped flat in a rigid envelope. Larger prints are shipped rolled in a mailing tube unless otherwise requested; flat shipping is an extra cost because it’s oversized.

GICLEE PRINTS

The giclees are printed on acid-free hot press art paper for a smooth matte finish using archival inks. Giclee is the highest quality print available because the technique uses a dozen or more ink ports to capture all the nuances of the original painting, including details of the texture, far more sensitive than any other printing medium. Sometimes my giclees look so much like my originals that even I have a difficult time telling them apart when they are in frames.

I don’t keep giclee prints in stock for most of my works. Usually I have giclees printed as they are ordered unless I have an exhibit where I’ll be selling a particular print so there is a wait of up to two weeks before receipt of your print to allow for time to print and ship.

I offer giclees of this painting in two different sizes: the full size of 31″ x 23″, a half-size of 16″ x 12.5″. The giclees have 2″ of white around the outside edges. All are countersigned by me.

DIGITAL PRINTS

Digital prints are made on acid-free matte-finish natural white 100# cover using archival digital inks. While digital prints are not the quality of a giclee in capturing every nuance and detail of color, texture and shading, I am still very pleased with the outcome and usually only I as the artist, could tell where detail and color were not as sharp as the original. Digital prints are only available up to 11″ x 17″ and some of the prints are cropped to fit standard mat and frame sizes.

Digital prints have at least 1/2″ around the edges depending on the size of the print. All are countersigned by me.

CANVAS PRINTS

Because the standard size canvas prints are not proportional to the original painting, canvas prints of this painting will have a portion cropped off.

I usually have at least one of the smaller sizes of canvases on hand, but order larger ones as they are ordered because I have limited storage space. Smaller canvases are a 3/4″ in depth, Canvases 12 x 16 and larger are 1-1/2″ in depth. I set them up so the image runs from edge to edge, then the sides are black or white or sometimes I slip in a color that coordinates with the painting. This canvas mirrors the edges of the image around the sides.

FRAMED PRINTS

I do all my own framing and can custom frame a print for you. Please ask.

All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit “purchasing” for availability and terms.

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All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including this image, check to see if I have it available already.